returned Carley, in feigned surprise. "Why,
I imagined from your tone that Miss Spencer's ride must have occasioned
her discomfort.... See here, Glenn. I may be a tenderfoot, but I'm no
mollycoddle."

"My dear, I surrender," replied Glenn, with a laugh. "Really, I'm
delighted. But if anything happens--don't you blame me. I'm quite sure
that a long horseback ride, in spring, on the desert, will show you a
good many things about yourself."

That was how Carley came to find herself, the afternoon of the next day,
astride a self-willed and unmanageable little mustang, riding in the
rear of her friends, on the way through a cedar forest toward a place
called Deep Lake.

Carley had not been able yet, during the several hours of their journey,
to take any pleasure in the scenery or in her mount. For in the first
place there was nothing to see but scrubby little gnarled cedars and
drab-looking rocks; and in the second this Indian pony she rode had
discovered she was not an adept horsewoman and had proceeded to take
advantage of the fact. It did not help Carley's predicament to remember
that Glenn had decidedly advised her against riding this particular
mustang. To be sure, Flo had approved of Carley's choice, and Mr.
Hutter, with a hearty laugh, had fallen in line: "Shore. Let her ride
one of the broncs, if she wants." So this animal she bestrode must
have been a bronc, for it did not take him long to elicit from Carley a
muttered, "I don't know what bronc means, but it sounds like this pony
acts."

Carley had inquired the animal's name from the young herder who had
saddled him for her.

"Wal, I reckon he ain't got much of a name," replied the lad, with
a grin, as he scratched his head. "For us boys always called him
Spillbeans."

"Humph! What a beautiful cognomen!" ejaculated Carley, "But according to
Shakespeare any name will serve. I'll ride him or--or--"

So far there had not really been any necessity for the completion of
that sentence. But five miles of riding up into the cedar forest had
convinced Carley that she might not have much farther to go. Spillbeans
had ambled along well enough until he reached level ground where a long
bleached grass waved in the wind. Here he manifested hunger, then a
contrary nature, next insubordination, and finally direct hostility.
Carley had urged, pulled, and commanded in vain. Then when she gave
Spillbeans a kick in the flank he jumped stiff legged, propelling her up
out of th